Monday, September 10, 2012

What to expect in the Millennium - 2, Glorified bodies!

This is one of my favorite topics of the New Millennium. Let's face it, unless you're thirty and under, you are probably starting to feel the effects of age. If you're over 50 like me, then you definitely are! The old saying that youth is wasted on the young is so true! When I was young, I took so much for granted. I slept well, had tons of energy, could eat whatever I wanted without repercussions, played sports and exercised without feeling like I'd been run over by a mack truck, could stay up all night and still function the next day. My mind was clear. My vision strong. My skin firm. My bones didn't ache. Wow! Of course when you're young, you don't know any different. You think you'll be like that forever. But there is good news for all of us, young and old. During the Millennial reign of Jesus and onward into eternity, we will get new, glorified bodies, super hero bodies!

But what does that mean? Aren't we all just going to be spirits floating around in heaven playing harps? Yet, I ask you, is that what happened to Jesus after he rose from the dead?. No! Scripture says that Jesus was the first of a new type of resurrected being.

But the fact is that
Christ (the Messiah) has been raised from the dead, and He became the
firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep [in death]. . . .But each in his own rank and turn: Christ the firstfruits, then those who are Christ’s [own will be resurrected] at His coming. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 Amplified

While we are on earth, our bodies are made of earthly material. We know this from Genesis when God made us from the dust of the earth. After the fall of man, that earthly body (along with all of creation) became subject to decay and began to die. for dust you are and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:19

Our Bodies

Before After
Perishable and decay Immune to decay, Immortal
Dishonor and Humiliation Honor and Glory
Sick and Weak Strength and Power
Purely a Physical Body Now a Spiritual Body

The body that is sown is perishable and decays, but the body that is resurrected is imperishable (immune to decay, immortal).It is sown in dishonor and humiliation; it is raised in honor and glory. It is sown in infirmity and weakness; it is resurrected in strength and endued with power.It
is sown a natural (physical) body; it is raised a supernatural (a
spiritual) body. 1 Corinthians 15 v 42-44 Amp.

Okay, where do I sign up?? And when will this happen? When Christ comes back for his Bride at the Rapture.

In a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the sound of the last trumpet
call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will be raised
imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed transformed. v 52

An interesting point to make about angels is that they do not have glorified bodies. They have spirit-bodies and can only operate in the spirit realm. (Yes, they appear now and then in the physical realm but they can only live in the spirit realm) We will have super-charged-physical bodies that operate in both physical and spiritual realms like Jesus.

Along those lines, I've often wondered whether we will be able to sin in these new bodies. I mean, I'm sure God still gives us free will, right? He doesn't want us to be puppets. But it kinda scares me to think that I could do something stupid and lose my position with God. The Bible doesn't speak about this yet it does promise that those of us who believed in Jesus in this age will rule and reign and be with God forever and ever. It doesn't say "as long as you don't do xyz" and it doesn't say that only some of us will be with God forever, so I have to believe that our new bodies made of heavenly material will have no proclivity for sin. In other words, sin will hold no allure for us, no attraction. We won't sin because we simply won't want to sin.

Let's look at some things Jesus could do with His new body.

I have this painting in my house!!

Walk through walls

Transport himself from one place to another quickly (Philip also did this by the power of the Spirit)

Eat !!! (My personal favorite)

He was recognizable, yet different (Many scholars believe this difference was because before His ascension back to Heaven, Jesus was not fully glorified.) However we know we will recognize people in eternity from several Scriptures. One in Luke 16 where Lazarus recognized Abraham and another in Acts 7 where Stephen recognized Jesus standing beside God in Heaven while he was being stoned.

Fly up to heaven ( I like to think we'll be able to fly through space!!)

Speak/Converse/Hang out with friends.

My opinion. Not found in Scripture: I tend to think that we will be able to run marathons without tiring. Play sports that we could never play before with expert skill, scale mountains, swim oceans, go scuba diving without equipment! We probably won't need sleep. We won't need to bathe. There won't be any of those annoying bodily functions.

Think about it, for all eternity, we will not grow old, we will not get tired, we will not get sick. We will have incredible strength and power. We will be indestructible. And most important of all, we will have unending, close fellowship with God the Father!

I don't know about you, but I'm heading outside to look up into the sky! "for your redemption is drawing near"! Luke 21:28

10 comments:

Mon Sept 10th,"Morning, MaryLu."Well .... I for two say "yes, sign me up" !!! Can hardly wait, MaryLu ... perfection, finally, at long last !!!I am so very much looking forward to being with the Lord, and fellow believers. Transformed totally, renewed -- never growing old, NEVER getting tired (can hardly imagine that one), and never getting sick ! Indestructible, wow ! But as you've said -- most importantly -- unending, close and personal fellowship with God our Father !!! Amen, and, Amen ! And, just think - perfect peace and harmony !!! Oh yes, as this 'earthly body' is ever aging, sagging, aching, deteriorating basically ... more and more our Heavenly Home, new bodies, and being in the very presence of God Himself is where I long to be !!!Thanks so much for sharing these great truths again.And indeed: "Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh" !!!Take care, and, God Bless,In Him, Brenda Hurley

Thanks Brenda and Lane! I love thinking about this.. especially the older I get. I just can't imagine how wonderful it all will be. I've always had a very weak body.. I get sick easily, get tired alot, have allergies, aches and pains..etc.. it will be nice not to have to worry about that anymore. Blessings!

God of many nations and people (Israel) be with all of you! yes, when i read this i literally get happy and excited every time! i long to have what is freely granted to me, and all of you, and the world! sad to think most people don't want this heritage, idk why! immortal, powerful, glorified, perfect bodies should sound pretty cool. shouldn't it? well... it does to me, as i can see for all of you too! i physically can't wait for my body, but my spirit waits with great awe, patience, and excitement!! God our father Jehovah be with all of you!!

May the lord be with all of you. we will have the ability to fly, super strength, walk through walls, see through things, play with the animals, walk on the clouds, sing a lot better, we will be a lottttttt brighter, we will be glorified, we will not die, nor get sick, thirsty, hungry, tired, eye bags, nor need watches! amen to the father of Jacob, Isaac, Abraham, and the all time precious Son of God JESUS CHRIST!

When Adam and Eve were first created they were given bodies that were immortal. Meaning that they would not die. With the single act of sin in the garden, they put on mortality and as a result death entered into creation. Death was foreign prior to the first sin.Often we hear that the raptured will get glorified incorruptible bodies. That is not what the Scripture tells us. Paul tells us that the DEAD gets glorified incorruptible bodies.1 Cor. 15:51-54 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.Look at the distinction that Paul makes… the DEAD get the glorified incorruptible bodies, while the raptured are merely changed. The raptured get bodies just like Adam and Eve did prior to the fall, where they put on mortality with the single act of sin.The significance of this in relation to the rapture is eye opening. Firstly, if the raptured don’t get glorified incorruptible bodies, then they cannot be heaven bound. Rather they meet Jesus in the air (1 Thess. 4) or clouds (Matt. 24:29-31). Translated from one place on Earth to another. At this point the raptured are forever with the Lord. Jesus is not headed back to heaven in a giant u-turn as some suppose, but on His way to the Mount of Olives… Zech 14:4,5Paul tells the Bride how to get ready on Earth for when Jesus comes for her with all of His saints…1 Thess. 3:10-13. All of His saints refer to those who have died and risen first. They are the ones that have been dwelling the the places in heaven that Jesus stated in John 14:2,3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” Jesus is going to be dwelling on Earth for the next 1000 years. The tribulation saints who were martyred during the tribulation will be ruling and reigning with Him there…Rev. 20:4. Jesus and His saints will not be returning to those dwelling places in heaven spoken of in John for 1000 years. So you see, there is no need for the raptured to have glorified incorruptible bodies until then, because they are not heaven bound until the end of the millennium.The word for rapture “harpazo” is used twice in the Word. Once in 1 Thess. 4 and the other in Acts where Philip was translated from the sea where he baptized the Ethiopian Eunuch. Philip disappeared from one location and reappeared in another on Earth. That is the definition of a rapture. Often it is referred to as translated. At the “rapture” or our gathering together with Him (2 Thess. 2:1), we are relocated from one place on Earth to another. First the air/clouds, then to the Mount of Olives.Satan is bound for 1000 years. I do not know if sin is totally absent from the Earth at that time due to the selfishness of the flesh, but the tempter is not present until the end. It appears that sin is not totally absent from what Isaiah states… Is. 65:20 Obviously the choice to sin could “put on” mortality once again, if that were possible for the elect. However, reproduction and having children is very possible for the elect, who do not have glorified bodies, but rather immortal bodies like Adam and Eve at the beginnings of creation. Isaiah speaks of this form of immortality in Isaiah 65:20.

Anonymous has a very different perspective. I would ask Anonymous, at what time does the Wrath occur? Sometime between the rapture and the Second Coming is the Wrath. Also, flesh is sin and sin can not enter Heaven, so in the final destination of Heaven on Earth, what type of body are we in?